Election and Predestination
Some Christians react negatively to the suggestion that God chose a people to show mercy upon and that he predetermined that heaven would be their eternal home. I was raised in an environment that never questioned the doctrine of election and predestination. From the time I was a child I heard these doctrines declared from the word of God without any doubt or equivocation. As a result I was never poisoned against this biblical truth. Still, I am astounded by the degree of opposition that some Christians have regarding these plainly taught and repeatedly articulated truths. Someone said to me a while back:
"I am a Baptist, but I don't believe in this primitive doctrine of predestination. Pure fallacies."
That is a very strong statement and there are many professing Christians who share this sentiment. In an effort to disprove this, I suppose I could point to the Harmony PBC Articles of faith which state:
“We believe in the doctrine of election and that God chose his people before the foundation of the world.” (Harmony PBC Articles of Faith, #3)
While this is a good and biblical statement, it establishes nothing. It is a statement made by fallible men who were expressing what they believe the bible teaches. Those oppose this statement could easily produce similar Articles or Confessions from another Christian tradition which supported their position. The best we can hope for in comparing articles of faith is a stand off - neither of them carry the authority of the word of God. The bible alone substantiates truth and the Word of God is the only standard for God’s people. Period. End of story. All that really matters is what the bible says and on the matter of election and predestination it is very clear, provided we set aside our vain traditions and uninspired opinions and take the time to look directly at the source document of the Christian faith. Consider the following questions:
Do you believe that God's people have obtained an inheritance in Christ being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will? Paul certainly did. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).
Do you believe that God predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will? Paul certainly did. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).
Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given unto him? Jesus certainly did. “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17:2)
The bible answers those questions. In so doing it makes certain that the eternal salvation of God's people is the direct result of God’s having chosen a people upon whom to show undeserved mercy, and that He predestinated their eternal salvation by covenant. This so-called "primitive doctrine of predestination" is really nothing other than a crystal clear teaching of the word of God. Though some might regard it as an hard saying, to regard it a "pure fallacy" is an out-and-out denial of the bible’s testimony. Do you find yourself opposing predestination? In all sincerity, I ask you to lay aside your church traditions, articles of faith, or creeds that may taught you to reject these truths. Instead, I ask that you soberly revisit the matter through a direct reading of the bible and ask yourself this question:
Do I reject election and predestination because the bible does not teach it, or do I reject them because I have been TAUGHT that the bible does not teach it?
Upon further examination, some come to discover that they are in the latter group. Let me encourage you to search the scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11) because we have an incredible gift in our direct access to the word of God. The number of God’s people who have been blessed to discover these things in the scriptures is too numerous to count and I feel certain that God will reward those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and believe that they may find it in his word. Below you will find a number of the scriptures upon which this much-maligned but well-founded doctrine is based for your consideration. I pray that you’ll look them up and read them in context in the coming days.
- Elder Daniel Samons
PREDESTINATED
“Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5)
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Ephesians 1:11)
PREDESTINATE
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did PREDESTINATE, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30)
ELECT
“Therefore I endure all things for the ELECT's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (II Timothy 2:10)
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's ELECT, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;” (Titus 1:1)
“ELECT according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (I Peter 1:2)
“The elder unto the ELECT lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;” (II John 1:1)
“The children of thy ELECT sister greet thee. Amen.” (II John 1:13)
ELECTION
“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to ELECTION might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” (Romans 9:11)
“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the ELECTION of grace.” (Romans 11:5)
“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Romans 11:7)
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the ELECTION, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.” (Romans 11:28)
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your ELECTION of God.” (I Thessalonians 1:4)
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and ELECTION sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (II Peter 1:10)
CHOSEN
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few CHOSEN.” (Matthew 20:16)
“For many are called, but few are CHOSEN.” (Matthew 22:14)
“And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath CHOSEN, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:20)
“Jesus answered them, Have not I CHOSEN you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70)
“I speak not of you all: I know whom I have CHOSEN: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13:18)
“Ye have not CHOSEN me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have CHOSEN you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19)
“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a CHOSEN vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (Acts 9:15)
“Not to all the people, but unto witnesses CHOSEN before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.” (Acts 10:41)
“And he said, The God of our fathers hath CHOSEN thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.” (Acts 22:14)
“Salute Rufus CHOSEN in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” (Romans 16:13)
“According as he hath CHOSEN us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4)
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning CHOSEN you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (II Thessalonians 2:13)
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath CHOSEN him to be a soldier.” (II Timothy 2:4)
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but CHOSEN of God, and precious,” (I Peter 2:4)
“But ye are a CHOSEN generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (I Peter 2:9)
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and CHOSEN, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)
DEFINITIONS
PREDESTINATION - to predetermine, decide beforehand, eternally decree, foreordain, or appoint beforehand. It has respect to God's monergistic acts involved in the eternal salvation of his covenant people (Ephesians 1:4-5), not to every single solitary event in human history (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
ELECTION - the act of picking out or choosing. As in the selection of a people upon whom God would show mercy (Romans 9:11).